Off to a Good
Start
Author: Prof Flitwick
Date: 12-16-03 17:57
Standing in the center of the Charms Classroom, I scratch my head and Wonder just how I am to manage this many hours in each day. I must presume Minerva will allow us to release the students a few minutes early. Somehow, I don't believe she means for us to use the full hour-and-a-half. Well, come what may, I suppose I'm ready for them. I post a copy of the schedule on the bulletin board, next to the door.
Charms
Instructor: Professor Filius Flitwick
Monday and Wednesday
9:00-10:30 AM 2nd year Slytherin & Hufflepuff
10:30-12:00 PM 3rd year Gryffindor & Ravenclaw
12:30-2:00 PM 4th year Slytherin & Hufflepuff
2:00-3:30 PM 5th year Gryffindor & Ravenclaw
3:30-5:00 PM 1st year Slytherin & Hufflepuff
Tuesday and Thursday
9:00-10:30 AM 2nd year Gryffindor & Ravenclaw
10:30-12:00 PM 3rd year Slytherin & Hufflepuff
12:30-2:00 PM 4th year Gryffindor & Ravenclaw
2:00-3:30 PM 5th year Slytherin & Hufflepuff
3:30-5:00 PM 1st year Gryffindor & Ravenclaw
Friday
12:30-2:00 PM 7th year NEWT
2:00-3:30 PM 6th year NEWT
Office Hours: Friday - 9:00 - 12:00, Evenings by Appointment.
I return to my lectern and scamper up the makeshift ladder of books. Just in time, too. The students, all Second-Year Slytherin and Hufflepuff, begin to file into the classroom. One or two greet me with open smiles. The rest are still dazed from the early hour and last night's feast. When they have all taken their seats, I greet them with a cheery, "Good Morning, Class!" My enthusiasm is met with a mixture of dull stares, hostile glares and a few faint smiles.
"We will begin our lesson, today, with a brief review of those spells we learned last year. Miss Audley! Some of the equipment we will need is in that cabinet behind you. Would you be so kind as to open it for us?"
Iris rises and tries the knob. "It's locked!" she exclaims.
"And how do we handle a locked cabinet?" I ask.
"Oh!" she says, fumbling for her wand. After several attempts at "Alohomora", the cabinet door yields to her spell.
"A bit rusty, are we?" I chide her. "Well, we shall have plenty of practice in the next nine months. And now, Miss Beck. There is a large box of wooden blocks on the bottom shelf. Would you please fetch it and distribute them to the rest of the class?"
Her "Wingardium Leviosa" works the first time, and the box drifts gently to the table in front of her. With another flick of her wand, clusters of four blocks emerge from the box and sail smoothly to the farthest desk. Jim Raynor, seated beside her, lends a hand, and the blocks are distributed in short order. "Well done!" I announce. "Five points to Hufflepuff!" Several Slytherins look rather pointedly at Iris, mumbling unkind words.
"Now, I would like you to spend the next ten minutes or so, stacking the blocks and moving them around. We're looking for control, here. We will work on strength, later..." They all set to work and I go about the room, correcting a wand motion here and a pronunciation, there.
Before I know it, the time is up, and we have covered only half of the first-year spells. "That will be all for today!" I tell them. "We will continue our review on Wednesday. In the meantime, I want all of you to practice, and start reading chapters one and two, in your "Standard Book of Spells - Grade 2." They quickly put away their notes and wands, and file out of the room. I hurry to put away all the apparatus and make room for the Third-Year Ravenclaw and Gryffindor group, who will be arriving shortly.
Re: A Stern
Warning to Nora...
Author: Nora
Date: 12-16-03 18:17
Sighing Nora picks up her parchment and quickly jots down a few answers. After completing the test she folds her arms and leans back in her chair, scowling at Professor McGonagall.
"Easy test, Professor...just didn't want to do it." Smirking at McGonagall she props her feet up on her desk, closes her right eye and yawns.
An Unexpected
Turn of Events
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 12-16-03 18:25
Bellatrix hummed to herself. She was sitting at her writing desk, looking out of the window. She had one leg crossed over the other, swinging the top leg lazily in an up and down motion. She watched the sun set over the forest that surrounded the Lestrange estate, until all that remained was a dull orange glow above the trees that burned like a distant fire.
A groan interrupted her thoughts and she turned around so that she could see behind her. She put one arm over the back of the chair and leaned sideways against it. She smiled, but said nothing. Eventually there was another groan as Mr. Granger regained consciousness. He was starting to sleep more and more she noticed, a classic defense mechanism for the body when it was under extreme pain and anxiety. His shirt was covered in dried blood from the week before. Fresh blood was dotted here and there, either from new wounds or perhaps old ones that had reopened. Bellatrix had noticed that once a certain level of exhaustion set into the human body it was much harder for it to heal properly.
She stood up and carefully applied her toe to Mr. Granger's side, giving him a shove so that he turned over and lay on his back. He opened his eyes carefully, blinking up at her like an owl that hadn't seen daylight for years. His neatly cut hair was now growing out and fell in soft waves around his face, giving him the appearance of a fallen angel, bloody and bruised. Soon to become more broken and bruised if she had her way, she thought.
"How are we today, Granger?" she teased. "Do you like the change of scenery? I thought you might appreciate a brief day trip."
He didn't reply, but instead he glared up at her. Bellatrix knelt beside Granger, placing a hand on his chest and feeling the beat of his heart. It fluttered somewhat, making her smile.
Without warning his left hand came up and grabbed her in a firm grip around the throat, startling her. She fell backwards, loosing her balance. His grip was determined, but he had no real strength and she started to laugh, more in disbelief than pain.
There was still some hidden depths to Mr. Granger, as unbelievably he drew strength from somewhere and began to tighten his grip around her throat. For a split second Bellatrix experienced real fear, followed by a wave of anger so intense she saw black.
"Accio wand!" she gasped, reaching a hand out to the side, where she knew she had placed it on the table. She felt the wand slide into her palm and she turned it on Granger, managing to gasp out "Crucio!" She felt Granger go rigid suddenly as the curse hit him. He immediately let go of her throat, clutching his side where the spell had caused an old wound to open. The man didn't seem to have any strength left to scream anymore – all he was managed to do was curl into a ball and squeeze his eyes shut, gasping for air. She backed away from him, panting, one hand to her throat. She was surprised more than anything, somewhat shocked that he had any strength left. "You'll pay for that one, Granger!" she snarled. "You're going to wish you were never born!"
Sometime later, towards midnight, Rodolphus returned home. The mansion was quiet, candlelight flickering gently from the direction of the sitting area. He followed the light, surprised to find Bellatrix standing over the limp body of Mr. Granger. She was like a cat; poised to pounce on her prey should he move even a muscle. He watched as she pointed her wand at him, whispering the cruciatus curse. The body twitched but didn't seem to really respond.
Rodolphus walked quickly over to Bellatrix and placed his hand over hers on the wand. He squeezed her fingers and took it from her, noticing her almost catatonic state. "Bellatrix?" he called softly, and when he got no answer he turned her around and forced her to look into his eyes. She blinked and managed to focus on him.
"Rodolphus? What are you doing home so early?" she asked.
"It's after midnight, dear," he replied. "What happened here?"
"Granger attacked me, so I made him suffer, but just a little bit," she said.
"The man's catatonic, Bellatrix, his mind was gone hours ago."
"He actually tried to strangle me," she said wonderingly. "The man deserves to die." It was then that Rodolphus noticed the pattern of blue fingerprints around his wife's throat. "He's in the next best place. Let's put him back in his cell and take a look at your neck."
Rodolphus secretly wondered why the man was still alive. She had killed people for a lot less, but he knew that deep down she wanted to make everyone pay for her stay in Azkaban. She would be hard to handle later once she had relaxed a bit, but he was used to her ways. She might be a little more spiteful for a while, but wasn't that the fun part?
Bad, Evil,
Dark - First Year DADA
Author: Michael Turin
Date: 12-16-03 18:47
Michael walks into the class and waves his wand at the blackboard. Instantly his name and office hours appear.
"Good morning class," he states. "I hope you are all awake because I'm jumping right into content of this course. I was tempted to give you all a quiz, but decided to leave that to the NEWT students."
The students look proudly received at this announcement, and I continue.
"In order to learn how to protect ourselves, we first must know what 'defense' is and what is it that we are defending ourselves from."
I let the student think on this a moment.
"First, is there a difference between 'bad', 'evil' and 'dark' and secondly what is 'defense' and how is it different from aggression? Take some time to consider this and write down your thoughts. We'll go over your answers in half an hour."
Michael sits at the desk and his students groggily began to make themselves think and answer the questions.
A Cozy Cottage
Author: Alicia Waterhouse
Date: 12-16-03 19:06
Alicia smiled and raised her eyebrows at Devo's antics, having been up for a few hours already.
She didn't mind getting up early now, but she remembered when she hated getting out of bed before noon. She was looking forward to class and getting to meet Hagrid. Her uncle had said he was something of an imposing figure, but hadn't elaborated.
Alicia followed Devo to the hut out in the middle of a field. It looked cozy, and Alicia decided she would have to draw it later, maybe use that new piece of charcoal she had gotten in Diagon Alley.
Early Morning
Business
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 12-16-03 20:51
The lobby is packed with students going to breakfast, classes and other destinations. It would take forever to get through the students trying to find their way around. Of course, I know a secret passage that will save time and bruising. Making sure no one is looking, I walk over to a wall between a stature of Weird Wanda and Medusa the Malevolent and mutter quietly "evanmura". The wall opens, I step inside, and then the door reappears behind me.
"Lumos," I say, pointing my wand ahead of me. A few minutes later I step into the hallway, next to The Guardian Gargoyle.
"Lemon Sherbert," I say, and the statue spins, to reveal the stairs.
I reach the top and am about to knock when it opens and Dumbledore's voice calls out. "Good Morning, Dierna. Please come in and take a seat."
I walk into the office. "Thank you, and good morning, Olamh." I shake my head. "You really have to teach me how you do that!"
Albie Didn't
Want You
Author: Adam Sparrow
Date: 12-16-03 21:49
"I would not have panicked if I knew how to defend myself. I could have learned everything at Hogwarts!" Adam couldn't believe his father wouldn't admit he had the right to his wizarding heritage.
Darius started to laugh cruelly. "You?! At Hogwarts! Adam you can barely tie your shoes on your own! What on earth would you have done at Hogwarts?"
Adam could feel his face getting hot. "I would have learned!"
"Learned!" Darius continued to taunt him. "If you recall correctly boy you couldn't even manage a muggle school. What would have become of you at Hogwarts?! The point is moot. You were not invited to Hogwarts. Albie didn't want you. So there you see? Why would I tell you Adam?"
That fact that Hogwarts didn't want him hurt. Adam had been nursing a headache all morning. He slept most of the way on the train from Hogsmeade. Now he just didn't feel up to fighting with his father anymore. Hogwarts hadn't sent him an invitation to the school. That proved his father was right.
He held his hand to his head. The familiar metallic taste assaulted his mouth. He whimpered. Then came a sudden increase of the pain in his head.
"Dad! Help me!" He grabbed the front of his father's lab coat.
Darius grabbed his son before he hit hard on the floor. He monitored the seizure and let it ride out. Dr. Darius Sparrow called in the medical team waiting in the hall.
Dr. Sparrow looked to an attractive young woman in a lab coat. "Find a reason to admit him. After the routine testing I want a complete workup by our specialists."
A Face in
the Crowd
Author: Nymphadora Tonks
Date: 12-16-03 22:10
It was another boring day in Tonks' life. She was sitting at the table in Number 12 Grimmauld Place, face down and her arms wrapped around her head. Bored, bored, bored.
Groaning she tilted her head back looking at the ceiling. "Just how boring can the day get!?" Tonks stood up and finally decided to take a walk. She didn't even bother to disguise herself. Just grabbed a jacket and stepped outside.
Walking along the muggle sidewalks of downtown London, Tonks looked up at the buildings and passers by. Wondering where they were going and how complicated their lives were. Such a waste of time they go through when all a wizard or witch as to do is point their wand and say a little enchantment and poof! The deed is done in an instant. But not muggles, no. They have to go through so many steps and so much physical work to accomplish one thing. Her thoughts ceased when she recognized one muggle in the crowed. It was none other than that new student, what was his name? Sora...Sora Hearts. There was his mum, Garnet. Tonks approached her with a greeting.
"Wotcher Garnet! It's Tonks. Remember me?"
"Of course! How could one forget? Thank you again for helping us out the other day. We would never have found our way around." The woman smiled.
"No trouble at all. So what are ya doin'? Shoppin'?" Tonks asked.
"Well yes, I'm actually shopping for Sora. His birthday is coming up. September 12."
Tonks' eyes were alight. "Ahhh! Mind if I come along?"
"Sure! I'd love some company."
"I'll have to send a card or something m'self. Hope all is well with him at school. Good luck t'im I say." She chuckled. "It's a little over whelming for some first years. Especially muggles who never knew we existed. You should look back into your family history you know. Find out if there were any Witches or Wizard a ways back."
"Not a bad idea Tonks. I'll have to look into that..As soon as I figure out how." She and Tonks both laughed.
"Well I'd be more 'en happy ta help ya there."
The rest of the day was spent talking of the Wizarding World and all it's wonders and history. About the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it's past headmasters and events. Filling Mrs. Garnet Heart with knowledge she would need to know to help her dear son through his new adventure.
Killing Time
Author: Serena Kayer
Date: 12-17-03 04:58
Serena's timetable had left her free this morning, so she decided to go for a saunter round the grounds with Gaia. Scooping the cat into her arms, she left the castle hurriedly, narrowly avoiding an anxious cluster of first years. Really, she knew she should be using the time to get in some early reading, but the sun was shining, the sky was blue and she wanted to enjoy a few more hours of freedom before the school year began in earnest with Divination tomorrow. She wondered, not for the first time, why she had opted for crystal gazing: she seemed to have a knack for it, but it could deathly dull at times. Still, at least Professor Sacheverell was better than old Trelawney used to be.
Not really conscious of where she was heading, Serena began to re-enact a favourite play from the muggle world, with the cat as her (somewhat quiet) leading man. Shame Shakespeare wasn't a wizard, she contemplated, as Gaia mutely returned her declaration of love. Romeo and Juliet could have just disapparated and ended up in Barbados or somewhere. She grinned at the image. Gaia seemed less impressed.
"Oh Romeo, wherefore art thou?" she swooned, long hair streaming in the breeze. She missed having James around to take on roles in her wild theatricals; her friends all seemed too interested in their work to take his place, and so she was left to be a drama queen alone.
A little way away, she could see a Care of Magical Creatures lesson taking place. Slytherin, it looked like, and Seventh Year. She crept a little closer until she recognised the dark head of Nick Stokes. Hmm. Maybe he wasn't an actor, but a real-life Romeo might be just as good. Maybe better.
Tears and
Advice...Sort Of
Author: Molly Weasley
Date: 12-17-03 06:44
At the sound of Percy's name. Molly tried to hold back the rush of tears that suddenly engulfed her eyes and were spilling over into her throat.
"Well dear," she started in a voice she hoped sounded normal but actually sounded like she wanted to throw herself off a cliff. "Your instincts are so good. If your heart is telling you to pursue the matter then I dare say dear you need to pursue it." The tears burst forth and Molly sobbed. She turned away from Bill and stood over the stove putting the cookies on a plate. "I know you can do anything you put your mind to Bill... Percy hates us!!" She sat at the table and sobbed into her hands. "Be careful ::sniff sob sniff sob:: with Julian. Don't reveal too much before..." The sobbing carried her away as she grieved for her lost lamb.
Late Already
Author: Nick Stokes
Date: 12-17-03 07:44
Ok, so the T didn't stand for Thursday then.
Nick scurried across the grounds to Hagrids house, robes flying out behind him, for his first lesson of care of magical creatures.
He was late, but he doubted that Hagrid would squish him.
He stood at the back of the other Slytherins and watched as Hagrid explained what the lessons would be about.
Glancing behind him he saw a figure on the school grounds bending and wilting strangely, he narrowed his eyes to get a better look. It was a girl and a cat, it was that girl from the train. Hagrid coughed to get his attention and he turned back again to watch the bearded giant.
Dust!
Author: Marina Sanjarya
Date: 12-17-03 08:12
"Cof, cof, cof... Oh my, these books in special need a little clean!"
Marina Sanjarya was sitting on the library floor, slowly cleaning a big pile of books, one-by-one. The one in her hands was titled "100 ways to be happy", which has made Marina feel a bit sad.
"If these books really worked... I would be the happiest woman in the world."
Then, at the same instant, Doan, one of her cats, jumped on the pile of books.
"No...Doan! Don't move! NO!"
Doan moved himself, and so the books did it, falling to the floor, all of them. Then Doan stared at Marina's eyes with all his cuteness.
"Oh, dear", she said with a smile, "That kind of books don't make me happy. But you do."
After giving Doan a big harm hug - almost suffocating him - Marina came back to work, to her book cleaning routine that she loved most.
As she was finishing her task, a thought ran in her mind. "Hermione. I need to have a serious talk with she. Hm."
Pacing
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 12-17-03 13:32
For Draco, the first day of classes started Thursday and with two days to go until this day, the Slytherin seventh year felt relaxed and carefree––mostly. After waking extra early to obtain his class schedule from Professor McGonagall only to realize he needn't have risen at all today or tomorrow, Draco thought he might return to bed but instead found himself pacing the common room.
Crabbe and Goyle watched him mutely from where they sat on the sofa. The clock on the wall showed it was nearing eleven in the morning. Soon it would be lunchtime. A growl erupted from the stomach of one of the colossal boys, or maybe both. Still, they watched Draco march the length of the common room, his face fixed pensively.
What a bitch, Draco thought suddenly, his jaw tightening as anger overcame him. Who the hell does she think she is?
He was, of course, thinking of Santhea. He hadn't seen her all morning, but had heard through the grapevine that she, too, didn't have any classes today. She'd likely emerge from her dormitory or wherever to glare at Draco soon.
He walked to the sofa opposite Crabbe and Goyle and sat down. "Girls. They're so stupid sometimes."
The bulky duo nodded as one, and Crabbe asked, "Are you thinking of Fennally?"
"Who else?"
"Parkinson, Bulstrode," Crabbe said as if he'd suddenly grown a brain.
Draco looked at him surprisingly and grunted, "Yeah."
"We heard the argument," Goyle spoke up.
"What argument?" Draco asked, not really caring.
"Between Parkinson and Fennally," Goyle replied.
Suddenly, Draco's interest was peaked. Goyle went on to explain the confrontation, how Pansy had claimed Draco considered Santhea nothing more than a friend with benefits...and Santhea had believed her every word.
"Parkinson's going to pay for that one," Draco spat venomously. "She's already walking a fine line. You'd think she'd know not to cross me."
Now Draco really knew why Santhea was so angry with him, but it didn't lessen any anger he had for her. If she was willing to believe Pansy's lies, then she really didn't know Draco at all.
Having a Lovely
Time. Wish You Were Here.
Author: Sidi Ross
Date: 12-17-03 13:33
"Hiya Captain Morgan!" Sidi tickled Adam's owl's head as it nuzzled her hand shamelessly expecting owl treats in exchange for petting. Captain Morgan was under the impression it was she that was doing the favor. Treat-whore. Sidi smiled and opened the treat container.
"Dig in!" Captain Morgan dug in.
Sidi opened the message the owl dropped in her lap.
She read. "Dear Sidi, Everything is going well. There has been no trouble whatsoever. The tests were routine all that is needed is a medication change. Great news yes? I will be staying with my parents for a few days. The whole family is here. With love, Adam."
She breathed a sign of relief. The whole family together was unique. What also was unique was that she didn't have to struggle to read his handwriting and there were no spelling errors in the note.
The wonders of modern medicine she shook her head. Either that or Darius was hovering over him correcting his every pen-stroke. Pen-stroke... She retrieved the note from the wastebasket and smoothed it out. Why would muggles have quills?
Is Your Refrigerator
Running?
Author: Arthur Weasley
Date: 12-17-03 07:13
Arthur sat behind his desk and watched the interoffice memos zoom over his head. People had been getting very competitive with their memos. It had started to become an air-show when one got one. The competition was stiff. He watched a small double folded, quadruple winged plane circle his head then do double loops before landing on his desk. Another, a sleek crisply folded aircraft nose-dived looking as if it would crash into his tea cup but pulled up just in time to speed to the top of the ceiling, roll over three times then come to a smooth landing on top of the stack of new forms towering in front of him. It was rather entertaining and certainly made memos a bit more interesting.
He sipped his tea and stretched his arms before digging into the pile. He had been out late last night. Anti-muggle sentiment was escalating. First it was vomiting toilets. Last week mailboxes were attacking the muggles trying to post. The victim would open the box and throw his letter in. The box would then grab the victim and try to drag him into the box. The poor muggle would be held captive until someone came to their aid.
Last night he was tracking down missing ice boxes. It seems a muggle would get a telephonie call (Delightful things those telephonies! Extraordinary idea!) When the victim answered a voice would ask if their "refrigerator" was running. Muggle iceboxes or "refridgerators" are connected by a big string like device called a cord with something with little sticks on the end called a plug. This plug is then attached to a wall where power is supplied to keep the icebox cold without ice! When the powersupply is active and the device is working that is called "running." The victim would then say "Yes, my icebox is running." With those words said the muggle icebox would jump up and run from the home leaving the shocked muggle either screaming or faint on the floor. It took double the time and double the manpower as one would have to subdue the icebox and the other apply the memory charm to the victim.
Straight away one would think such a prank would be done by a young witch or wizard. But notice the complexity of the spell. The actual movement of the icebox is triggered by the muggle response not a wand or incantation. This indicates an older more experienced wizard who is able to sucessfully achieve the desired result without being in close proximity to the bewitched prop.
Arthur sighed and wonderd if he'd even make a dent in the towering wall of paper in front of him.
